Exploratively

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner characterized by probing into unknown areas or subjects
2. In a way that emphasizes discovery and examination of new concepts or environments
3. In a way that involves careful investigating or searching into something new

Etymology: "Exploratively" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "explorative," meaning relating to or serving exploration, with the adverbial ending "-ly" added to describe doing something in that manner. The base adjective is built on "explore," which came into English from Latin "explorare," meaning to search out or investigate, a verb whose original sense relates to searching for something by sound or tracking. The adverb therefore describes an action carried out in the spirit of investigation, where the doer is probing into unfamiliar territory, whether a physical landscape, an idea, or a set of data. The "-ly" suffix is the same one found in countless English adverbs such as "quickly" or "carefully," so the word follows an ordinary pattern rather than a special history of its own.

Synonyms: inquisitively, investigatively